School Budget FAQs
Why are we dependent on overrides to maintain services?
Grafton Public Schools face a structural funding gap.
We already spend less per student than about 96% of districts in Massachusetts, yet costs continue to rise — especially for staffing, special education, transportation, and utilities. About 80% of the budget is tied to people and required services, so there’s limited flexibility to cut without impacting classrooms.
At the same time, state funding is limited, and Proposition 2½ restricts how much revenue the town can raise locally.
Overrides are the only way to close that gap and maintain current services.
Why doesn’t state aid help Grafton more?
Grafton is considered a “minimum aid” district.
That means the state assumes our community can fund its schools locally, so we receive only small increases in funding each year. In past years it as been as little ~$30 per student. This year it is projected to be $75 per student.
Meanwhile, costs continue to rise each year.
“Minimum aid” doesn’t mean our schools need less. It means we receive less support from the state, which increases pressure on local taxpayers.
What happens if funding isn’t addressed?
We’ve seen it happen in nearby communities like Northbridge.
After a failed override, they made repeated cuts, larger class sizes, fewer programs, and reduced support for students. Over time, families left the district, which created even more financial strain.
Nearly 20 years later, they are still trying to recover.
When funding gaps aren’t addressed, the impact compounds and becomes much harder to fix.
What has the district done to bring in additional revenue?
The district and community have taken multiple steps, including:
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Transportation and parking fees (~$180K/year)
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School choice program (~$900K/year)
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Special education tuition revenue (~$600K/year)
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Preschool tuition and expanded programming
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Solar energy savings
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Strong support from PTOs and booster groups
These efforts help, but they are not enough to close the overall funding gap.
Have other revenue ideas been explored?
Yes. Options such as adult education, athletic fees, and other programs have been considered or tried, but they generate limited revenue or require upfront investments that the district cannot currently support.
These ideas can help at the margins, but they don’t solve the larger structural issues.
Have shared services been considered?
Yes. Grafton continues to explore shared services with other towns and departments to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
While helpful, these efforts typically provide modest savings and cannot fully address the budget gap on their own.
Are Grafton teachers overpaid?
No, Grafton is aiming to pay its teachers competitively but not excessively.
In fact, compared to nearby districts, Grafton ranks toward the lower end of the pay scale, depending on experience level.
Teacher salaries are set through negotiated contracts and are aligned with regional market rates to help attract and retain qualified educators.
It’s also important to note that about 80% of the school budget supports people, teachers, and staff, because education is a people-driven service. These costs include salaries, benefits, and required services that directly support students.
The goal is not to overpay, but to ensure we can hire and keep strong educators for our students.
Why can’t the schools live within their means?.
The district has made cuts, added fees, and looked for efficiencies wherever possible. But the biggest cost drivers, teachers, student support, and transportation, are essential and often required by law.
Meanwhile, costs keep rising, while revenue is limited and state aid hasn’t kept pace. So the gap grows each year.
This isn’t about overspending. It’s about a system where the funding hasn’t kept up with the needs of students.
If you have additional questions about school spending please reach out to the Superintendent at: cummingsj@grafton.k12.ma.us